A District Court judge has denied the state Attorney General’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit against a new multi-functional law saying the plaintiffs have proven their claims are worth hearing in court. It challenges Senate Bill 319 which was signed into law in May and prohibits groups from political activities on certain parts of college ...
Nearly 1 Million Acres Burned In Montana In 2021
There are 35 active wildfires burning in Montana according to the state’s fire tracking database with more than 2,500 wildfires reported so far this year and 930,788 acres burned. The state is in the second year of drought conditions that have continued into the fall season but firefighters have managed to contain the total land burned to belo...
Sydney Law Firm Latest To Challenge Vaccination Discrimination Bill
House Bill 702 passed by lawmakers and signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte in May was aimed at preventing workplaces and customers from discrimination based on their vaccination status. Netzer Law Firm in Sydney is challenging it arguing it runs counter to the state Constitution’s equal-protection clause and its guarantee of a cle...
Montana Officials Take Action Towards Illegal Drug Trafficking
The Montana Department of Justice announced Wednesday its first round of grant awards for local law enforcement to intercept illegal drugs trafficked into the state. The state is drawing $300,000 from upcoming revenues from taxes on cannabis sales to combat methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking. According to the Montana Board of Crime Contr...
Commission Narrows Down Montana’s New House Districts
Montana’s independent redistricting commission has proposed nine maps for the state’s two congressional districts. The setup of the commission is designed to ensure the process isn’t overly partisan. In most states the Legislature takes on the task of redrawing voting districts. Zuri Moreno with Fair Maps Montana says that often means partisan...
UM To Investigate Law School’s Culture Following Harassment Claims
Following a walkout and rally at the University of Montana’s law school, UM is launching an independent review to assess the school’s structure. As first reported by the Daily Montanan women from the law school say the dean and associate dean discouraged them from reporting allegations of sexual harassment and assault to the university&#...
South Moccasin Fire Up To 11,750 Acres
An update now on a fire that started Monday from our Lewistown affiliate KXLO’S News Director Heidi Weber. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/10-06_1137.mp3
Conservation Group To Begin New Initiative To Conserve Forests Near Lincoln
A group of diverse interests has agreed to a proposal for managing 200,000 acres of forests around Lincoln, a town northwest of Helena, offering a unique approach to public lands management through a mix of conservation forest reforestation and outdoor recreation. Zach Angstead is with Wild Montana which is part of the group. He says the plan ...
Senator Daines Joins Congressional Effort To Change President Biden’s 30 x 30 Plan
A group of 39 GOP members of Congress released an alternative to President Joe Biden’s 30 x 30 land conservation initiative Tuesday co-authored by Senator Steve Daines pushing for more attention to productive management of working lands. In a video statement, Daines said Biden’s proposal lacks clear information about what lands would qualify t...
Districting And Apportionment Committee Narrows Down Options For New House Districts
Nine U.S. House district maps were selected Tuesday from more than 200 submitted by the public or nominated by members of the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission. Montana is the first state in history to regain a House seat lost in a previous U.S. Census. The state had two districts until the 1990 Census when low population cost M...